Automobile.



N0.'s45,0s1. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

E. CLIFF; DBGD. J. ULIIF, ADMINISTR'ATRIX.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.26,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

13% 14 e oaeo PATENTEDFEB. 19, 1907.

No.84 5,031-. v

E. CLIFF, DEGD.

J. CLIFF, ADMINISTRAIRIX.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED D130. 26. 1905.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n u H H 1% 14 case 0 3631 ful af-tozum I PATENTBD FEB. '19, 1907.

B, CLIFF, DBG'IL. I J. 01.121, ADMINISTBATRIX.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.26.1905.

4 SEEBTSw-SHEBT 4.

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l QB N IXX-tmaaoeo NTTED STATES- rarnrvr errors,

EDWARD CLIFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y-.; JANE CLIFF ADlVIINISTRA'iRTX OF SAID EDWARD CLIFRDECEASED.

AUTOMOBILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed December 26,1905. swarm. 293,241.

T0 at whom it may] concern.-

1 Be it known that I, EDWARD CLIFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobiles and other Vehicles, of which the fol-.

lowing is a specification. v

The invent on relates to improvements 1n automobiles and other vehicles; and itconsists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide an easy-riding vehicle, to provide for the supporting of the axles on springs located within the hubs of thewheels, and to furnish a novel hub construction capable of 1905, to Edward Clifi.

The resent invention pertains to a novel, simpli ed, and more convenient construction and arrangement of the Wheel hub andits conta'ned parts and the end portion of the axle, and said invention will be fullyunderstood from the detailed description herein after presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which. I

Figure 1 is a central vertical transverse section through the hub portion of a wheel embodying my invention, a portion of the end of the axle for the-wheel being shown,

and the section being on the dotted line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of same on the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the axle being shown in top elevation and one-half of the inner vertically-movable frame, which-is mounted on the axleand bears on the springs, being also shown in top elevation. Fig.3 is

' a view of the wheel-hub, taken from the outer, end thereof, one half of said hub being shown in elevation and the other half'thereofin section on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2., Fig. 4 is an exterior top view of a portion of the front wheel-hub of an automobile; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of same, Figs. 4 and 5 being presented to illustrate the application of the invention. to the front wheels of an automobile, while such application to the rear wheels is shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

In the drawings, 10 designates the axle, and 11 the hub of the wheel, this hub being composed of two vertical cupsections l2 13, which when brought together form an interior chamber 14 to contain the non-rotatable frame 15 and vertical non-rotatable frame '16, which is carried-onthe reduced and slightly-tapered end 17 of the axle 10 and at its upper opposite edges bears upon the springs 18.

The hub-sections 12 13 are formed with annular flanges 19, between which is formed a chamber to receive the inner ends of the spokes 20, the latter being secured in'position and said sections being fastened together by bolts 21.

The outer hub-section 13 is formed with a central horizontal opening surrounded by a threaded flange 22, adapted to receive a closing-cap 23. The inner hub-section 12 is open'at its center and beyond this opening is formed with a series of lugs 24, to which, by means of bolts 25, are secured the sprocket-wheel 26 and brake-flange 27.

The frame 15 is preferably in one integral casting and supports raceways 28, which 00- operate with raceways 29, carried by the hub sections, in receiving and retaining the-ballbearings 30, uponwhich'the hub 11 rotates.

The hub 11 rotates around the frame 15, and

the latter affords a fixed axial center for the wheel and is not movable within said hub.

The frame 15 is formedf'with semicircular vertical edge sectionsfor boxes 31 to receive the coiled springs 18., and said frame has an outer or front wall 32, from which projects outwardly a circular flange 33, supporting the outerracew'ay 28 and surrounding an opening34 in line with the opening in the outer face of the hub-section 13. At its inner end the frame 15 has acircular flange.

35, Fig. 2, supporting th'einner raceway 28 and also a box-like. section 36, affording side,

top, and bottom walls around a rectangular opening 37, intowhich 'a rectangular section 38 of the axle 10 projects, said section 38 fit ting snugly but not too tightly between said side walls andbeing free of'said top and hottom walls; whereby said section 38 permits vertical movement of the wheel-hub and prevents the frame 15 from rotating with said hub.' The side walls of the opening 37' extend outwardly slightly beyond the rectangular portion 38 of the axle and lap and guide upon the sides ofa vertical'section 39 of said axle, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and full lines in Fig. 2, and, as shown in Fig. 1, said section 39 extends above and below the opening 37 and serves thereby to exclude dust'from said opening and alsoto afford guiding and bearing surfaces for the ends of the top and bottom walls of the opening 37.

At its lower portion the frameIHisformed I with a horizontal support 40, Figs. 1 and 3,

.for thecoiled springs 18, and at itsvertical center the frame 15 is open to receive and. guide on the frame 16, which is angular at its corners, as shown in Fig. 2, and fits snugly but not too tightly within angular guidingrccesses 41' in the frame 15.

The frame 16 has a horizontal bore and fits upon the section 17 of the axle 10, and at its upper opposite transverse edges said frame 16 is formed with horizontal plates 42, fitting freely within the semicircular sections 31 of the frame 15 and bearing on the coiled springs 18. The plates 42 are apertured to permit the free passage through them of the bits 43, which are threadedaat their lower I ends, Fig. 3, and screwed into threaded aperturesin the liorizontalsupport for the springs 18. The bolts 43 pass through the springs 18. When the normal weight of the body of" the vehicle acting through the axle 10 and frame 16 is on the springs 18, the lat -ment of the frame 16 with the axle 1.0. In

the top of the frame 16 is formed a cup 44to contain a lubricant, which may feed through openings 45 and lubricate the adjoining guiding-surfaces of the frames 15 16.

The frame 16 is preferably fastened upon the section 17 of the axle 10 byv means of a screw 46, which enters a threaded socket formed partly in said section 17 and partly in the frame 16, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the adjacent portion of the frame 16 is chambered, as at 47, to admit of the vertical movement of said frame (with the wheel) without contacting with the head of said screw.

The frame 16 cannot rotate with the wheel,

because it is fastened to the axle 10, and the frame 15 cannot rotate, because it is .held against such movement both by the frame 16 and by the section. 38 of the axle. The frame 15, howeef,.partakes of any vertical move I ment of:the wheel and at such time slides vertically on the frame 16 and axle-section 38.

Upon the axle '10 is provided a'seat 48 for the usual elliptic spring upon which the body of the vehicle. is mounted, and to the section 39 of the axle is applied an eybolt 49 to' receive the usual stay-rod 50.

In the employment of the invention the ends of the axlebecome springsupported,

due to the fact that the framelfibears upon thesprings 18, and the wheel while rotating upon-the frame 15 as an axial center alwa s in fixed relatiento t'he wheel may have free ver' tical movement and is cushioned by said springs, the wheel in its vertical movements being guided and kept in true position'by the frame 16- movement of the frame 15 on the and axle-sections 38 39.

One of the objects accomplished by this invention is that it provides a very easily manufactured and applied mechanism for carrying out the general pur oses of the invention' described in the a oresaid Letters Patent No. 792,649. The end of the axle 10 the frames 15- 16 may be readily manufactured and fitted together. Thehub 11, be ing iin two vertical sections, may be readily app iedupe n the interior spring mechanism, and a very important object accomplished by'the present oonstructionis that it -enables the removal of the wheel from the axle without separating the sections of the hub. When it is desired to remove the present Wheel, the cap ;23 will be removed and the axle will be jacked up to allow the Wheel to lower'enough for the opening 34 in the'frame 15 topass into line with the .screw 46, and thereupon said screwwill be withdrawn-and leave the Wheel and axle free to be separated one from the other, there being nothing after the screw 46 is removed but the tight fit of'the axle-section 17 in the frame 16 to interfere with the direct withdrawal of the wheel from the axle. I

In Figs. -4 and 5-I show'the application of, the invention to the front wheels of an automobile, and in such application the only ma-' "terial change made in the construction'is to swivel on a bolt 51 that which enters the hub 11.

I deem it advantageous that the non-rota tablef rame or casing 15 affords boxes or vertical chambers 31 for the s rings 18 at oppositg sides of the axle and t at the frame 16,

portion of the axle .ca hed by the axle, has itsparts 42 extended into said chambers anduponsaid springs, since thereby the axle proper may be eX- tended substantially across the huband the cushioning action equalized on opposite It will be observed on refersides thereof. ence to Fig. 1 that the axle projects into and substantially across the spring-chamber formed within the non-rotatable frame 15 9o v is of simple form, easily manufactured, and

' vertical planes of the ends of which the end e to secure by Letters Patent, is-

inclosed within said hub for the end of said ing above t their supports below to the top of said chamand carries w tnln said chambertheframe 16 1 to bear upon both springs 18, said springs constituting a spring member between the of the axle and frame 16 are interposed. The springs 18preferably extend above and below the axle, as shown, whereby I am en abled to use springs of considerable length without making the wheel-hub unduly large.

'What I claim as my invention, and desire 1. In a vehicle, an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, said wheelseach havinga hollow hub which is closed except at its inner. face where it is open to receive the end of the axle, combined with spring cushioning means axle and'comprising a non-rotatable frame around which the wheel may turn affording at opposite sides of the vertical plane of the axle and below the same a support for the springs, coiled springs on said support continuously extending upwardly at opposite sides of the axle to points above said axle, and a part secured upon theaxle and extendhe same and above said axle bearing upon the upper ends of said continuous springs, said part and said frame being adapted to have a sliding relation to each other; substantially as set forth.

' 2. In a vehicle, an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, said wheels each having a hollow hub open at its inner face to receive'the end of-the axle, combined with springcushioning means within said hub for the end 9f said axle, said means comprising a non-rotatable frame around which the wheel may turn and affording continuous vertical chambers atopposite sides of the axle and extending above and below the horizontal plane of the same, coiled springs confined wit 'iin said chambers and extending continuously from bers above the horizontal plane of said axle, and a part secured upon the axle and extending above the same and bearing upon the upper ends of said continuous springs, said part andsaid'frame being adapted to have a sliding relation to each other; substantially as set forth.

' 3. In a vehicle, an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, said wheels each having a hollow hub formed of vertical cup-sections bolted together to form a hub which is closed except at its inner fac'c where it is open to receive the end of the axle, combined with spring cushioning means inclosed within said hub for the end of said axle and comprising a non-rotatable frame around which the WI eel may turn affording at opposite sides of the vertical plane of the axle and below the same a support for the springs, coiled springs on said support continuously extending upwardly at opposite sides of the axle to points above said axle, and a part secured upon the axle and'extendin g above the same and above sa d axle bearing upon the; upper ends of said continuous springs, said part and sald frame being adapted to have a sliding rela tion to each other; substantially as set forth.

4. In avehicle, an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, said wheels each having a hollow hub open at its, inner face to receive the end of the axle and a removable ca on its: outer face, combmed with spring cus hionin means within said hub for the end of s ai axle, .said means com rising a non-rotatable frame around which t e wheel may turn and affording a support for the sprin member, a spring member mounted on sair support, a frame carried by theaxle and engaging said spring member,- and means in" line with said cap and removable throu h the .opening low hub, open at its inner face to receive the end of the axle and'a removable ca 'onits outer face, combined with spring cus 'oning means within said hub for the end of said axle, said means comprising a non-rotatable frame around which the wheel may turn and affording a support for the spring member, a spring member mounted on said support, a frame through which the end of the axle projects and which engages said spring member, and

, means at the end of said axle for locking said frame and axle together, said frame on the axle and said non-rotatable frame having'a sliding relation to each other, and the end of said axle and its locking means being ex posablc upon the removal of said cap; sub

stantially as set forth.

6. Tina vehicle, an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, said wheels each having a hollow hubopen at its inner face to reeelve the end of the axle, and said hollow hub containing a non-rotatable frame around which the wheel may turn and which affords a support for the spring member and has a vertical angular opening at the. inner side ofthe hub, and said axle having an angular section adapted to said opening and also a vertical section closing the outer end of said opening, combined with a spring member mounted on said support, and a part carried by the axle within said hub and bearing on said spring mefnber, saizl part and said" angular section of the axle having a sliding relation'with said nonrotatable frame; substantially as set forth.

7. In a vehicle, an axle and wheels on the ends thereof, said wheels each having a 1101- low hub open at its inner face to receive the.

, ends thereof, said wheels each having a hollow hub open at its inner face to receive the sides of the axle, springs within said chambers and extending above and below the end ioning. means within said hub'for the end of said axle, said means comprising a non-rotatable frame around which the Wheel may turn I andaifording a support for sprin s at the l sides of the axle, springs mounted on said support and extending above and below the end of the axle, and a part on the axlehaving portions extend-ed upon said springs, said part and said frame being adapted to-have a sliding relation to each other; substantially as set forth..

. 8. In a vehicle, an axle and wheels on the end of the: axle, combined with spring cush -t end of the axle, combined with spring cushioning means within said hub for the end of said axle, said means comprising a non-rotatable frame around which the Wheel may turn. and affording vertical chambers at opposite of the axle, and a part on the axle havm portions extended upon said springs, said part and said framebeing adapted to have a sliding relation toe-ach other; -subtantially as set forth.

9 In a vehicle, an ends thereof, said wheels eac'h having-ahollow hub open atits inner face to receive the end of the axle, combined with spring cush-' ioning means within said hub for the end of said axle, said means com rising a non-rotatable frame around whic the wheel may turn, springs mounted on said frame at opposite sides of the axle, an intermediate frame mounted on the end of the axle and having axle and wheels the portions extended upon said. springs, ,ancl

olts passing freely through said portions and said springs and screwed into said nonrotatable frame, thelatter'frame and sairl intermediate frame having a sliding relation to each other; substantially as set forth.

Signed at-New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 22dday of December, A. D. 1905.

EDWARD CLIFF. Witnesses:

I JANE CLIFF,

CHAS. 0.,GILL. 

